Brasstown Bald
Georgia's highest point, 4,784 feet up, with a rooftop deck, a museum and views on a clear day that run all the way to Atlanta.
The short answer
Getting to the top
Walk it or ride it
You park about half a mile below the summit. From there it's either a steep, paved 0.6-mile trail up to the viewing platform or the shuttle, which is included in your $10 ticket. The top has a 360-degree observation deck, a natural history museum and exhibit hall, a Mountain Top Theater and a gift shop with locally made products. On a clear day the view reaches as far as the Atlanta skyline, about 85 miles away. It's a Forest Service site run by FIND Outdoors.
The Cherokee name for the mountain is Enotah. Wikipedia notes that "Brasstown" likely comes from an English mistranslation of a Cherokee village name. The summit is also the only known home of a tiny isopod, Ligidium enotahensis, found nowhere else on Earth.
Fees and hours at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Regular hours | Daily 10 AM-5 PM; $10 per adult 16+ including the shuttle |
| After hours | $6 per adult 16+ |
| Kids | 15 and under free |
| Shuttle | Last shuttle up at 4:30 PM; last return 5 PM. $4 for interagency pass holders. |
| Annual pass | $40 |
| Closed | The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
From FIND Outdoors. Public access to the trails continues year-round, but visitor services run only in the staffed season.
Longer hikes from the mountain
| Trail | Length |
|---|---|
| Summit Trail (paved, very steep) | 0.6 mile |
| Jack's Knob Trail | 4.5 miles |
| Arkaquah Trail | 5.5 miles |
| Wagon Train Trail | 7 miles |
These trails are available any time, even outside visitor-center hours. Bring water and a map.
Tips
Arrive when it opens
Parking gets tight on fall-color weekends, so aim for 10 AM.
Pack a layer
It's cooler and windier up top than in Helen. Ice and snow can stop the shuttle in early winter; in early November 2025 a snow event paused it.
Time it for fall
The summit usually turns before the valley. Our fall color guide has timing.
Pair it with a nearby stop
Vogel State Park and Helton Creek Falls are both on the way in the right direction; see the Vogel guide.
Common questions
How high is Brasstown Bald?
It's 4,784 feet above sea level, the highest point in Georgia. On a clear day you can see the Atlanta skyline, about 85 miles away.
How long is the drive from Helen?
About 40 minutes and 20 miles without traffic. The last stretch is a steep, winding spur road.
How much does it cost?
Admission is $10 per adult 16 and older during regular hours, with the shuttle included. After-hours entry is $6, and children 15 and under are free. The annual pass is $40.
Do I have to take the shuttle?
No. You can walk the paved 0.6-mile summit trail, which is steep. The last shuttle up leaves at 4:30 PM.
When is it open?
Daily 10 AM to 5 PM in the staffed season. It closes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Does the Georgia ParkPass work here?
No. Brasstown Bald is a Forest Service site run by FIND Outdoors, not a state park.
Keep planning
Related Imagery from Around Helen
